OZARK, Mo. — The Central Arkansas Beach Bears enter the Beach Bear Bash in Ozark, Missouri, Feb. 27-28, with a 2-2 overall record and eager to build on early season momentum. UCA looks to rebound this weekend after a challenging opening weekend at the Missouri State Tournament in Springfield.
Last Tournament Recap
The Beach Bears opened the 2026 campaign with a 2-2 split at the Missouri State Tournament. UCA earned two wins on the first day — including a 4-1 victory over McKendree and a 5-0 sweep of Eastern Illinois — but ran into tough matches on Saturday, falling 4-1 to Lindenwood and 5-0 to host Missouri State.
Despite the setbacks, the Beach Bears showed fight and flashes of strong play across the lineup, with competitive sets throughout the weekend. That experience will be key as they face a loaded tournament field this weekend.
Beach Bear Bash Schedule
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Feb. 27 — 1 p.m. vs. Southwest Baptist
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Feb. 27 — 5 p.m. vs. Lindenwood
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Feb. 28 — 10 a.m. vs. Missouri State
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Feb. 28 — 2 p.m. vs. Eastern Kentucky (EKU)
The double-day format will test UCA's depth and endurance as they compete in four matches in less than 48 hours, offering plenty of opportunities to refine pair chemistry and earn valuable wins.
Matchups to Watch
- Southwest Baptist: A strong regional opponent UCA will open against, with both teams eager to start the tournament with a win.
- Lindenwood: A rematch from Springfield, where the Beach Bears fell 4-1. UCA will look to flip the script this weekend.
- Missouri State: Another tough test against a squad that opened the season 4-0 and swept UCA previously.
- Eastern Kentucky (EKU): A fresh matchup in 2026 play, giving UCA a new challenge to close the Bash.
Outlook
With a balanced roster of returners and emerging talent, the Beach Bears aim to make strides this weekend and push toward a winning record. The Beach Bear Bash presents a chance to build consistency and compete against familiar and new foes as UCA continues its 2026 journey.
Fans can follow live updates and results via UCA Athletics' social media channels throughout the weekend.
